Although not completely exhaustive, the list uses information provided by all companies affiliated to IFRA, which the association estimates covers about 90 per cent of the global fragrance industry.
According to IFRA director general Jean-Pierre Houri, the initiative responds to consumer demand for more information on their everyday products.
“This list represents the industry’s palette of materials from which fragrances are formulated. We believe releasing information on our materials will help us in our efforts to communicate about the industry’s extensive safety program more comprehensively.”
In addition, he said it enhances the transparency of the North American communication initiative led by the Consumer Specialty Products Association, where certain manufacturers including those of cleaning and air care products have decided to disclose their ingredients to consumers.
No disclosure of formulas
However, IFRA’s list of ingredients does not provide information of which ingredients are used in which products.
“Obviously we aren’t publishing formulas here; that is protected information,” director for communications at IFRA Stephen Weller explained when previously contacted about the initiative.
For consumers who have suffered problems with certain fragrance ingredients it is possible to find out what is in a product by contacting the manufacturer who would then contact the fragrance provider, he explained.
The list contains 3163 ingredients that have been compiled on 2008 data and can be accessed here.